My name is Mark Conte and I am partner at the Kelly Law Firm in West Chester, PA. I spent over fifteen years in the Chester County District Attorney's Office where I was ulitemately promoted to a Deputy... Read More »

Mr. Kelly has represented numerous individuals, such as professional athletes and elected officials in high profile criminal cases. Mr. Kelly has obtained the highest possible rating of "10" by AVVO and... Read More »

Andrea E. Mertz is an attorney with Polyak Law Office, P.C. Ms. Mertz's practice focuses on defending vigorously the rights of the criminally accused. She has significant experience in representing individuals at the pretrial and trial levels of adjudication. She has a background of helping individuals overcome significant challenges in their lives. Ms. Mertz received her Juris Doctor from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1996, and her Bachelors of Arts from Purdue University. She is a member of the state bars of Pennsylvania and Maryland and the United States District Court for Eastern District of...

Reading, PA attorney James Polyak specializes in criminal defense. He is a graduate of Penn State and Widener University School of Law. After law school, he completed his internship at The Berks County District Attorney's Office in Reading, PA. In 1992, he was hired by The Berks County District Attorney as a full time Assistant District Attorney, where he prosecuted crimes including Robbery, Rape, Burglary, Drug Possession, Theft, Assault and DUI. In 1994, he was promoted to Chief Prosecutor of the Child Abuse Unit of the District Attorney's Office. After gaining valuable experience as a prosecuting attorney in Reading, PA,...

Anne has been a practicing attorney since 2007. She began her work by clerking for the now President Judge of the Lancaster Court of Common Pleas, the Honorable Dennis Reinaker. Anne then pursued her legal career helping individuals who are unable to afford attorney on their own as a trial attorney in the Lancaster County Public Defenders Office. Anne along with her Husband became partners at Bentley, Gibson, Kopecki, Smith, P.C. where she practices Family Law cases, including Divorce and Child Custody as well as handling DUI and other Criminal Law matters.

Have you been accused of a crime in Reading? Are you considering the option of filing for bankruptcy? Do you need help in a family law case? You should contact Attorney Curtis Barnes and his team to learn how he could help you. Curtis is a graduate of the Florida State University in Tallahassee where he studied Criminology. As a student, he worked at the Florida State Attorney General’s Office where he was able to gain experience in investigating criminal offenses. He then went on to attend the Delaware Law School of Widener University where he graduated with his law...

As a Berks County native, Daniel Emkey understands its citizens and truly cares for their well-being. He believes strongly in the legal system and pursued his career in defending the people’s rights. Daniel earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law where he was a member of the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic and participated in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. He went on to work at the Berks County District Attorney’s office as the Assistant District attorney. His time as a prosecutor gave Daniel special insight that he uses to help his current clients. He now heads his...

Jacob A. Gurwitz is a criminal trial lawyer at Feeney & Gurwitz in Reading, Pennsylvania. He has litigated numerous criminal matters involving disorderly conduct, DUI, murder and other violent crimes, and more. He serves a wide range of criminal clients in the Berks, Lancaster, Allentown, and Pottsville, Pennsylvania, areas.Mr. Gurwitz received a full chess scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas, where he was elected as student body president, and earned a bachelor's degrees in government and political science. After college, Mr. Gurwitz earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia, where he...

Attorney Robert J Kirwan II is one of Pennsylvania's top Criminal Defense attorneys. With an extensive record of "Not Guilty" verdicts in major criminal trials. Mr. Kirwan is also a well-known Personal Injury Trial Attorney with several million dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients over the past 27 years.

Mr. Kirwan is well versed in State and Federal Law and is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and before the United States Supreme Court, as well in multiple US District Courts.

A former government prosecutor, Mr. Kirwan uses that training and expertise to zealously defend his clients in all...

Ryan Hyde is an experienced criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor. In addition to handling hundreds of DUI cases through all stages of trial Ryan served as a DUI ARD Coordinator and as one of lead attorneys on Economic Crimes, Arson Crimes and Special Investigations Unit. ...

My name is Paul A. Bauer III, and I am the founding lawyer of Bauer and Associates. I focus my legal practice on providing the most aggressive criminal defense in the Pottstown area.
I previously spent fourteen years as a founding partner of the Garner & Bauer Law Firm and four years in the Montgomery County district attorney’s office where I prosecuted more than 1,000 cases.

I am a litigation attorney practicing primarily in the Reading area, and the editor of www.SCOPAreview.com, a website providing coverage of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In my free time, I enjoy creating media, watching classic movies and everything about college football. During my law school career, I worked for Justice McClanahan of the Virginia Supreme Court, helped author an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States, obtained Regent Law’s “Eagle Award” for the top class grade from a former US Attorney-General on the law of war, and graduated in the top 10 of my class....

James Munnelly is a criminal defense attorney at Ciccarelli Law Offices in West Chester, Philadelphia. James fights diligently to get the best possible outcome in each case for his clients. He believes individuals facing criminal charges should have qualified and competent legal counsel to help them build a strong defense. James Munnelly studied political science at Elizabethtown College where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in 2009. He then earned his Juris Doctor at Widener University of Law in Delaware, where he graduated with a pro bono distinction. To achieve this honor, James performed at least 50...

Charles graduated from the Hill School in 1973 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in 1977. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware in 1981. Charles was hired as an Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County from 1981 to 1985. Charles was admitted to practice before the following Courts: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - 1981 U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania - 1984 Supreme Court of Florida - 1984 United States Patent and Trademark Office – 1992 He went on to...

James attended Malvern Preparatory School and is a 1978 graduate of Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School of Kingston, Pennsylvania. James also attended the University of Miami and University of Scranton, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. In 1986, James was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law. From 1986 through 1989, James was a Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney on the Major Crimes Unit and the Sex Crimes Unit, which he captained toward the end of his tenure with the DA's Office. Upon concluding his career as a prosecutor, James joined...

A driving cornerstone of NiaLena's success is her passionate advocacy and her belief in traveling "the road less traveled by" made so famous by the poet, Robert Frost. Recently spotlighted by Super Lawyers in a feature article entitled "Fierce" and honored repeatedly as one of the "Top 50 Women" in Pennsylvania, NiaLena is the only criminal defense lawyer ever featured on the Super Lawyers cover in Philadelphia Magazine. Differing from most of her colleagues, NiaLena has tremendous compassion and focuses first on her clients as people. She utilizes a unique all-encompassing approach in an effort to help them during their...

Dawn Padanyi is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Syracuse University College of Law where she was the Co-Director of the Grant Opportunity Program and a member of the Community Development Law Clinic While at Syracuse, Ms. Padanyi was chosen to receive two grants to perform legal work at the local and state level. Ms. Padanyi is a Pennsylvania and Massachusetts licensed attorney. She is a member of the Bucks County Bar Association as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is also proud to be selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Bucks...

Lee Ciccarelli is the founder of Ciccarelli Law Offices: a Pennsylvania Litigation Law Firm focusing in Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Family Law matters. Ciccarelli Law firm takes on tough cases and fights for clients when they need it the most. ...

Alfonso Gambone, Esq. is the firm’s founder and now serves as its chief executive officer and managing director . He is an aggressive trial attorney who has successfully represented hundreds of individuals throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey where he is admitted to the state and federal bars. He is passionate about the legal profession and protecting the constitutional rights of individuals. Mr. Gambone entered private practice with one of Philadelphia’s largest and most prominent law firms. He continued his career with a litigation boutique firm before starting his own practice. Prior to private practice, he served in...

Criminal Lawyers in Nearby Counties

Criminal law addresses the government's prosecution of individuals who have been accused of committing a crime. Such laws may be federal, state, or local. The prosecution represents the people of a particular jurisdiction, and acts on behalf of the government by bringing a case against an accused. Under the U.S. Constitution, a person accused of a crime may have the right to a criminal defense attorney during interrogations and certain other times before and during a trial.

Whether you are under police investigation, have been arrested, or are facing charges, having an advocate familiar with the criminal justice system.

Most jurisdictions classify crimes as felonies or misdemeanors, with felonies being the more serious offenses with the possibility of more severe sentences. Some criminal lawyers focus on a specific area of criminal defense law, such as white-collar crime, drug offenses, theft crimes, or violent crimes. You should consult with a criminal defense lawyer early on in the process to preserve options, such as diversion programs or plea bargains.

When hiring a criminal defense attorney, you should evaluate the experience and fee structure of the attorney. Some offer a free consultation to discuss your case.

Accomplice liability:
If a person aids, assists, or encourages another in the commission of a crime, they are criminally liable as an accomplice to the crime.

Self-defense:
The claim that an act otherwise criminal was legally justifiable because it was necessary to protect a person or property from the threat or action of another.